Friar’s Corner: Look to Jesus that you may be radiant with joy!
Proverbs 9:1-6; Ps 34:2-7; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58
Come, Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your well beloved spouse. (Fr. Gogby)
This week we continue to reflect on Jesus as our “Daily Bread,” coming from heaven to feed us. The first reading this weekend, from the Book of Proverbs, speaks of God’s Wisdom who has built her house (his Church), set up seven columns, (the seven sacraments), … mixed her wine, and spread her table. “Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness that you may live, advance in the way of understanding.”
With our eyes of faith and hope we can understand this as I have indicated. Here predicted in the Church, the sacraments and the Eucharistic feast table where God feeds us on his word and plan for our life and feeds us on the body and blood of Jesus for forgiveness of our sins and food for our work in this life. Those who are baptized and part of a parish family, are welcome at the table.
The Psalm is again part of 34. We are encouraged to “Look to God or Jesus, that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress He saved him.” Part of the radiance of joy comes from the resurrected glory of Jesus on Easter Sunday morning.
Also when we pray we want to be enveloped in the radiance of Christ and flowing from the Eucharistic presence of Jesus in the consecrated host in our tabernacles. This is central to our faith. What many Catholics to do not understand nor recognize. If we did understand, we would be so in awe that after Mass we would stay a little with Jesus to thank, praise and worship him in silence instead of running out to talk with others and go home forgetting about Jesus.
These last verses of John 6 have Jesus continuing to remind us that what we receive in communion is not just a thin wafer but that his whole person in present in that “consecrated host.” We take Jesus’ words at the Last Supper literally, “this IS MY BODY.” Here on earth with our frail human minds we will never fully understand with awesome blessing and presence. I think what would help us understand more fully, after the consecration, would be singing part of that Christmas Carol, O, Come, All Ye Faithful, with the refrain, “O come, let us adore Him… Christ the Lord.” Then to take a few minutes to reflect what has just happened.
Holy Spirit, please open our eyes and minds to understand your wisdom here and increase the radiance of Your joy. Have a good week as we pray for one another.
Blessings,
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
(© 2015 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
